USM team consisting of Shanti a/p Vijayakumar (Final Year Accounting Student from School of Management USM),
Lee Ee Hun (Final Year Accounting Students from School of Management USM), and Dr. Ahmad Suhaimi Baharudin, lecturer from School Of Computer Sciences (Supervisor) won 1st Runner Up for Business Idea in the MSC Malaysia-IHL Business Competition 2011/2012 held on 24-25 May, 2012 at MDec Headquarters, Cyberjaya.

M-Umrah FOR THE WORLD ... Khaled shows M-Umrah application created by USM researcher, Assoc. Prof. Muhammad Rafie Hj. Mohd Arshad

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8, 2012 - After witnessing the promising performance of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in various fields under the framework of the Accelerated Program for Excellence, USM is urged to focus on driving the cross-field research.

Higher Education Minister, Dato 'Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the effort necessary to be implemented by institutions of higher learning (IPT) in order to find a balance point between disciplines of science, technology and humanity in an integrated manner.

He said the country need to produce the best brains who are versatile and able to understand the importance of knowledge, apart from playing the role in contributing solution ideas to the current issues and challenges.

"Institution of higher education in this country should find a way to combine various disciplines of interest to produce students who not only proficient in their knowledge, but know how to apply their knowledge," he said.

He was speaking at a press conference after launching Selected Initiatives Book of APEX Univserity and M-Umrah: Umrah Guide Mobile Application developed by USM researchers for global users.

The launching ceremony was also held in conjunction with Partnership Seminar for Selected Initiatives Book of USM APEX organized by USM in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

He added that Malaysia today is not only moving in its comfortable zone, instead also covering the range of human capital that are capable to compete globally.

"The ministry is confident and believe in the ability of USM to achieve the country's objective and mission to strengthen the concept of liberal education and multi-discipline, also hoping that the effort started by the APEX program will also be shared with all.'' he said.

Commenting on the innovative M-Umrah, Mohamed Khaled said, it shows that technology is no exception in university efforts to help the pilgrims who perform the Hajj and Umrah to do their worships better and more systematic.

He said this is the  first innovations introduced in this country which are creative and unique. The effort of the USM researchers will give an invaluable benefit to the global community.

"We have seen the mobile application in the Quran with the translation, but for Hajj and Umrah, this will become the first to be fitted with detailed information at our fingertips," he said.

Meanwhile, USM Vice-Chancellor, Assoc. Dato 'Omar Osman, said M-Umrah will be improved and translated into several other languages ​​which will be used by pilgrims around the world, including English, Urdu and others.

"It was developed solely by USM researchers and it becomes one of our initiatives in empowering Hajj and Umrah pilgrims through the concept of knowledge transfer," he said.

M-Umrah also provides an opportunity for Umrah pilgrims to know their steps to perform the rituals gradually and orderly, from the first step to the Holy Land until the completion of their worship.

It is also capable to give directions to the congregation if lost through the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) developed in the system.

Source:
http://www.usm.my/index.php/ms/arkib-berita/9765-usm-disaran-pacu-penyelidikan-rentas-bidang.html

http://www.usm.my/index.php/ms/arkib-berita/9775-menteri-pengajian-tinggi-lancar-m-umrah.html

2 Projects from School of Computer Sciences was selected to the finals at National Research & Innovation Competition 2013 (NRIC 2013)

1. Ng Poh Sin (Supervisor En Azam)

a. Gold Medal in ICT Category
b. Best Overall NRIC (RM 5000 & will represent USM in British Invention Show in London)

2. Muna Omar (Supervisor Pn Wahidah)
a. Silver Medal in Health & Medical Science Category

GEORGE TOWN: Four places in Malaysia have been identified as research sites for an early geohazard warning system for landslides and floods.

University Sains Malaysia (USM) School of Computer Science associate professor Dr Chan Huah Yong said sensors would be placed at hillslopes in Jeli, Kelantan, and Kenyir in Terengganu, the Kelantan river basin and along the East-West Highway to monitor earth movement and floods. “The data collected will be disseminated to the relevant government agencies so that a geohazard early warning system can be developed,” he said.

Updated on March 7, 2012: PETANI MANFAAT SMS TINGKAT PENANAMAN PADI

GreenEve2Peace is a web-based application that employs sms based application to assist MADA and farming community in
improving the management of farming activities.

NSTP-MCommunity 11 Sept 2011

USM bags three awards at British Invention Show

by christopher tan

GEORGE TOWN: Three entries from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in the British Invention Show 2013 (BIS) have won gold medals and a special Diamond award.

The three entries – listed as top projects in the university’s Novel Research and Innovation Compe­tition – competed with those from researchers, lecturers and students from 20 countries in BIS 2013, said USM School of Chemical Engineering lecturer Prof Abdul Latif Ahmad.

The BIS was held in London from Oct 23 to Oct 26.

Meor Muhammad Hafiz Shah Budin, 23, and Muhammad Razif Abd Razak, 23, entered their Bachelor’s Degree final-year project “M.O.S (Moringa Oleifera Seeds) Natural Bio­degradable Coagulant”.

It grabbed the gold medal and the Diamond award for its cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment.

“Oil Palm Syrup in Production of Toffee” by Syuhairah Ahmad, 23, took the second gold medal.

“My research is about using sap from oil palm trunks as a new source of alternative natural sweetener,” she said.

All three students are pursuing Master’s degrees at USM.

The third gold was for “The Eyes: Car Security System” that uses image processing, micro-controllers, Google’s cloud service and mobile technologies to detect and recognise authorised drivers.

“This is a system that can enhance car security with immediate response time.

“If the driver has no authority to drive, the system will alert the car owner by sending a notification including an image to the owner’s mobile phone,” said its inventor Ng Poh Sing, 24, who is now working as a software engineer.

Taken from : http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/30/USM-bags-three-awards-at-British-Invention-Show.aspx